Kiggans and Barrett Work to Strengthen Aviation Safety Following DCA Tragedy

WASHINGTON, DC - Last week, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) introduced the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act of 2025 to increase safety protocols for military aircraft following the tragic mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025. This bill would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to evaluate the feasibility of equipping all U.S. military helicopters with modern collision avoidance systems to improve safety measures for military rotary-wing aircraft operating near civilian airspace.

Congresswoman Kiggans and Congressman Barrett are both former military helicopter pilots who served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, respectively. Their legislation lays the foundation for a long-term safety initiative that would help prevent future accidents like the devastating crash at DCA, protecting both military aviators and civilian air travelers.

"Every day, military aircraft routinely operate in and around civilian airspace without incident," said Congresswoman Kiggans."However, small mistakes can lead to terrible disasters, as we saw recently with the tragedy at Reagan National Airport which resulted in the death of 67 people. As a former Naval aviator and wife of a Naval aviator, ensuring our military pilots have the necessary technology to remain safe while in the air is personal to me. I am proud to join my colleague and former Army helicopter pilot, Congressman Tom Barrett, in introducing this bill to enhance aviation safety and work to prevent future mishaps."

"Jen and I know firsthand the risks that come with operating military helicopters in complex airspace. While there were likely many factors that contributed to the fatal accident at Reagan National Airport, we know evasive action may have been possible had the Black Hawk been equipped with the same collision avoidance system as the airliner," said Congressman Barrett. "This bill allows us to take a closer look at retrofitting our military aircrafts with the life-saving technology needed to prevent future tragedies and keep our soldiers and civilians safe in the sky."

Background:

You can find the full text of this bill here.

• On January 29, 2025, a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner and a United States Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided mid-air over the Potomac River about one-half mile short of runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed in the crash, including 64 passengers and crew on the airliner and the 3 crew of the helicopter. It was the first major U.S. commercial passenger flight crash in nearly 16 years and the deadliest U.S. air disaster in nearly 24 years.

• It stands to reason that the crash may have been avoided if the military helicopter was outfitted with the same collision avoidance equipment as the commercial airliner. Had two TCAS systems been able to communicate with one another, or the helicopter had the benefit of ADS-B IN capabilities, perhaps evasive maneuvers could have been taken before it was too late. Helicopters in every branch of the Armed Services routinely fly training missions near civilian airspace.

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the causes of this tragic accident, and their investigation is likely to take twelve to eighteen months to complete.

• Following a preliminary investigation report released on March 11, 2025, the NTSB has recommended the FAA permanently stop helicopters from flying on helicopter Route 4 near DCA when certain airport runways are being used for arrivals and departures. The NTSB also recommended the FAA designate an alternate helicopter route to help law enforcement, Coast Guard patrols, and others who rely on Route 4.

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